Container having a pedal for opening the lid

ABSTRACT

A container includes a main containing body for containing objects therein, a lid pivotally connected to an upper end of the main body, and a control mechanism fitted to the main body for moving the lid between an open position and a closed position; the control mechanism has a transmission rod, and has a pedal for moving the transmission rod up and down so as to move the lid between open and closed positions. A buffering element is fixedly connected to the main body at one end, and is joined to the transmission rod for counteracting downward movement of the transmission rod when the lid is being pivoted down from the open position to the closed one, thus eliminating noise caused by the lid hitting the main body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a container, which has a lid capable of being pivoted open by means of depressing a pedal thereof, more particularly one, of which the mechanism for opening and closing the lid is equipped with a buffering element so that the lid can be moved to closed position with reduced force and at desired speed.

[0003] 2. Brief Description of the Prior Art

[0004] One conventional container includes a containing body, a lid pivoted to the containing body for covering the same, and a control mechanism for opening and closing the lid; the control mechanism has a pedal pivoted to the containing body for a user to depress to open the lid; when the user stops depressing the pedal, the lid will be forced to move back to the closed position automatically by means of an elastic element. When the container is used for holding garbage, the pedal prevents germs and dirt from being passed on among users via the lid because people don't have to touch the lid to throw garbage into the container.

[0005] However, the lid will hit the containing body with big force when it is forced to pivot back onto the containing body by the elastic element, and in turns, loud noise is produced, causing unpleasant feeling, and the container has reduced service life. Furthermore, the users might have their fingers injured accidentally for the same reason.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] It is a main object of the present invention to provide a buffering mechanism to a container, which has a lid capable of being pivoted open by means of stepping down on a pedal thereof, so that the lid can be pivoted down to closed position more gently when the depressing action on the pedal is terminated.

[0007] The container of the present invention includes a main containing body, a lid pivotally connected to an upper end of the main body, and a control mechanism for moving the lid between an open position and a closed position.

[0008] The control mechanism has a transmission rod pivotally connected to the lid, and has a pedal for moving the transmission rod up and down so as to pivot the lid open and closed. A hydraulic element is fixedly connected to the main body at one end, and joined to the transmission rod at the other end for counteracting downward movement of the transmission rod when the lid is being pivoted down to the closed position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The present invention will be better understood by referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0010]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the container according to the present invention,

[0011]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container according to the present invention,

[0012]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the container according to the present invention,

[0013]FIG. 4 is another cross-sectional view of the container according to the present invention,

[0014]FIG. 5 is a view of the container of the present invention when the lid is being opened; and,

[0015]FIG. 6 is a view of the container of the present invention when the lid is being moved to the closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] A preferred embodiment of a container in the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, includes a main body 11, a lid 12, and a control mechanism for moving the lid 12, which consists of a pedal 13, a transmission frame 14, a transmission rod 15, and a buffering element 16 as main components.

[0017] The main body 11 has a containing room. An inner containing member 17 can be positioned in the containing room for containing objects therein.

[0018] The lid 12 is pivotally connected to an upper end of the main body 11 so that it is positioned over the opening of the main body 11 when pivoted to a closed position. The lid 12 is connected to the control mechanism so that it can be pivoted between the opened position and the closed position.

[0019] The transmission frame 14 is pivotally connected to a lower end of the main body 11 by means of pivotal pins 141.

[0020] The pedal 13 is joined to the transmission frame 14, and sticks out from the main body 11. An elastic element 142 is connected to the transmission frame 14 at one end, and the main body 11 at the other end for biasing the transmission frame 14 to an original position after a user has stepped down on the pedal 13 and released the same.

[0021] The transmission rod 15 is pivotally connected to the transmission frame 14 at one end, and pivotally connected to the lid 12 at the other end so that the lid 12 can be pivoted to an open position when the pedal 13 is stepped down on, and pivoted to a closed position after the user stops depressing the pedal 13.

[0022] The buffering element 16 can be of a hydraulic type or a pneumatic type. A fixing plate 161 is fixed to an inner side of the main body 11 while the buffering element 16 is fixedly joined to the fixing plate 161 at one end, and is joined to the transmission rod 15 at the other end.

[0023] Referring to FIGS. 5, and 6, when a user steps down on the pedal 13, the lid 12 is pivoted open and the buffering element 16 is stretched. When the user stops depressing the pedal 13, the buffering element 16 will be forced to shorten to the original length while the elastic element 142 is forcing the transmission frame 14 to move back to the original position, under which the lid 12 is positioned right over the main body 11; thus, the buffering element 16 counteracts downward movement of the transmission rod 15 and the lid 12. In other words, the lid 12 can be pivoted down onto the main body 11 with reduced force and at reduced speed.

[0024] From the above description, it can be easily understood that the lid of the container of the present invention will not cause noise when it is being closed, and the container is relatively safe to use, and has lengthened service life because the lid will not hit the main body too hard in the downward pivotal movement. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A container, comprising: a main body having a containing room for holding a containing member therein; a lid pivotally connected to an upper end of the main body; and a control mechanism fitted to the main body for moving the lid between an open position and a closed position; the control mechanism having a transmission rod pivotally connected to the lid at one end, and has a pedal for moving the transmission rod with; and being characterized by: a buffering element; the buffering element being fixedly connected to the main body at one end, and being joined to the transmission rod for counteracting a downward movement of the transmission rod when the lid is being pivoted down from the open position to the closed one.
 2. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the buffering element is of an adjustable type so that speed and force of downward pivotal movement of the lid can be changed.
 3. The container as claimed in claim 2, wherein the buffering element is of a hydraulic type.
 4. The container as claimed in claim 2, wherein the buffering element is of a pneumatic type.
 5. The container as claimed in claim 2, wherein an elastic element is connected to the control mechanism at one end, and the main body at the other end. 